Self-tilting vessel-cover.



C. C. BOWEN.

SELF TILTING VESSEL COVER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I. l9l8.

1,289,372. Patented M31, 1918.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY In: mu: rn'nu m. mmlmm. vumncmu, n r.

EIIT SA SELF-TILTING VESSEL-COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed March 1, 1918. Serial No. 219,885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE O. BOWEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crookston, in the county of Polk and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Tilting Vessel-Covers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to kitchen utensils, and more particularly to covers for kettles and other vessels.

The object of the invention is to provide a self-tilting kettle cover having a handle and which when lifted and removed from the kettle by the handle assumes a tilted or oblique position so that the lower edge of its over-balanced side will first engage the table or other object on which it is to be laid so as to insure the turning up of the under side of the cover to prevent soiling of the table by steam or grease adhering to the cover and which, when raised for returning to the kettle will right itself and turn inside down ready for application to the'kettle.

Another object is to provide a cover of this character which will swing to vertical position and tilt at an oblique angle without necessitating turning of the wrist or hand of the user.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of What is claimed without departing from the spirit of-the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the cover in the position which it assumes when lifted by the handle, and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cover in operative position on the kettle or vessel to which it is to be applied.

In the embodiment illustrated, a cover 1 is shown, circular in form, and pressed out of tin or other suitable sheet metal. The dotted line 2 represents the true diameter of the cover which has two bearings 3 arranged ofi the center line of balance and in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 4 formed from a heavy wire rod having one end bent laterally to form a retaining finger 5 to thereby providing a retaining shoulder 7 and thus the whole providing a hand grip.

By forming this coil 6 at the outer end of the handle the handle will not become as hot as when the usual ring at the center is employed.

By pivotally mounting or hinging the shaft 4- to one side of the center line of balance of the cover indicated at 2, this cover will swing vertically and at an oblique angle when lifted from its seat and thus allow any moisture on its inner face to drip into the vessel from which it is removed before transferring it to a resting place. When removed from the vessel the over-balanced or downwardly swinging side of the cover will have a tendency to swing upwardly and when it contacts with the surface of its resting place which may be a table or a stove, will be turned bottom side up and thus prevent soiling of its support and also prevent dirt from getting on the inner face of the cover and being conveyed back to the vessel when the cover is replaced.

When the cover is lifted from its resting place by the handle it will swing into vertical position at an oblique angle so that its lower face will be disposed downwardly ready for application to the vessel in connection with which it is to be used.

It will thus be seen that by lifting the cover through its handle it will swing automatically to a vertical position without necessitating turning of the hand or wrist of the user.

It will be obvious that the gist of the invention resides in the location or attachment of the handle shaft 4: at a point off the center line of balance of the cover which produces the result above described.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skllled in the art to which the invention .appertains and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made as are Within the scope of the claimed invention.

I claim 1. A cover of the class described having spaced bearings arranged in alinement at a point off the center line of balance of the cover, a shaft loosely mounted in said bearings and having its inner end bent to form a retaining finger, its outer end extending beyond the perimeter of the cover and bent to form a hand grip with its terminal engaged with the shaft body adjacent the perimeter of the cover to cooperate with said finger and prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft.

2. A circular cover having alined bearings arranged off the center line of balance, a shaft loosely mounted in said bearings with a lateral projection at its inner end to prevent its Withdrawal through said bearings, said shaft extending beyond the perimeter-of the cover to form a handle and having a stop thereon adjacent the perimeter of the cover to cooperate with said finger to prevent the longitudinal movement of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLAUDE G. BOWEN. Witnesses V. L. MoGREcoR, MARCUS STEPHENS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for Jive-cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

